Mom's homemade ice cream

Does it get any better than this? I think not.

4 eggs

1 cup sugar

2 Tbsp sugar

2 Tbsp vanilla

1 pint whipping cream (30%)

2 cans sweetened condensed milk

1 1/2 quarts milk

1/4 tsp salt

Mix all ingredients well in a large bowl. Pour into ice cream maker and freeze as directed.

**To make chocolate chip mint, omit vanilla and add 1 Tbsp mint extract, a few drops green food coloring and 1 cup chocolate chips.

Dad's salsa

1 can tomato purée (10.75 oz)
1 1/3 cup water
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped jalapeno peppers with seeds
2 Tbsp white vinegar
1/4 tsp salt
garlic to taste

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer 30 minutes or until desired thickness. Keep refrigerated.

Mom's barbecue sauce

1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp salt
3 tsp mustard
garlic to taste
2 Tbsp sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp black pepper

Combine ingredients and let simmer 15 minutes.

Lemon cream sauce

Here served over ravioli stuffed with cêpes mushrooms, but would also be great over asparagus.

1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp flour
1 cup light cream
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp lemon zest
salt and pepper
lemon juice

Melt the butter over med-lox heat in a small saucepan. Stir in the flour and lemon zest, then half of the cream. As it begins to thicken, stir in the other half. Repeat with milk. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Just before serving, stir in a little lemon juice (start with 1 tsp) to taste.

Did you say 'pique-nique'?

Just in time for this weekend's picnics, Mark Bittman has come up with 101 picnic dishes that can be prepared in 20 minutes. And they are gooooood.

Read his full article in the New York Times here. Or, read by category:

9-19: Raw Vegetables

20-30: Cooked Vegetables

31-42: Bean, Rice and Grain Salads

43-54: Potato Salads and Egg Salads

55-60: Fruit

61-70: Seafood

71-80: Meat and Poultry

81-90: Sandwiches

91-94: Cold Noodles

95-101: Desserts

Black bean tacos

2 cups black beans, cooked
1/2 lb ground beef, cooked and drained
1/2 cup cooked corn, drained
tortilla chips
lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces
1 small onion, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
fresh cliantro
lime slices
grated Mimolette or Cheddar
crême fraîche or sour cream
1 packet taco seasoning or:

3 tsp chili powder
2 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
pinch cayenne pepper

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine black beans, ground beef (optiona), and taco seasoning. Mix well and heat through.

Serve hot over tortilla chips. Top as you want. Olé!